I'm one of those regular people who don't have a trust fund, don't have a $500.00 per hour type of job, or have a lot of money to spend.

I think the subject of money is a very sensitive issue whether there's a recession or not. I'm the type of person who gets really uncomfortable when someone brings up how much their new handbag cost, the guy their dating has a trust fund, or what exotic location they're going to for a vacation.

Sure, people who have the means and are carefree about their spending habits can dismiss my attitude towards the above topics as "envious" but, really, I'm not envious of people who can afford to live a life of luxury.

I just really don't know what to say to them because I really could not relate to their lifestyle because I live a very simple life; staying in during the weekend to paint a picture, planting tomatoes, sewing and going on a hike in a local national park as my "exotic vacation."

The only close and most trusted friend I have all my life is my immediate family. They are the people who understand me the most. My friendships with people outside my family always ended since I've had difficulties relating to their way of life as well as them not understanding my choices to live simply.

There are lots of people who have chosen to live the way you do, although I have no idea what you consider "luxury". Does it mean food in the fridge? Medical insurance? New jeans once in a while?

I think your problem in maintaining friendships has more to do with your self-righteous tone than anything other people have done. YOU may not value eating out once in a while, but most people do, and they don't appreciate someone like you looking down your nose at them because they're normal and you have chosen not to be.

There IS an undercurrent of jealousy in what you say, no matter what you claim. I suspect that if you lightened up your attitude and learned to take people for who they really are instead of snobbishly judging them without giving them a chance, you wouldn't be so thrilled about hiding in your home pretending that your isolation is a choice.

Oh, and by the way....People who travel are more interesting, learn more, and are a lot more fun to be around than people who squat on their little hills pretending that they're somehow "virtuous" for doing nothing with their lives.

I find it odd that you say you cannot relate to anyone, nor them to you, when you spend money differently. I can listen to others' stories of travel and fancy nights out even if I can't do those things myself right now, because I can see their pleasure and share in it. I can talk about our weekends at home and the how the veggie garden is doing (fantastic, by the way) and they can share in my pleasure at that. To me, that's what relationships are about - taking joy in each other's joys, and sharing in each other's burdens. Not because we have identical joys and sorrows, but because we care about each other as people.

If you can't listen to others or talk about your own enjoyments, to me that suggests that something is amiss, whether it be envy or some other source of dissatisfaction in your life.